General Discussion Topics, page-147865

You tend to forget that most things that are bad for you were once promoted as being good. Cigarettes were advertised as being cool and fashionable and there were some who were commissioned to figure out how to entice more women to take up smoking. Many venues were smoke filled and there were advertising billboards everywhere - half my family smoked, I didn't.

Vehicles were also advertised and encouraged (and now the EV push) - jaywalkers were fined back from ages ago and can still be. Public transport whilst exists, is not very efficient and has been run down - some tracks are so bad that 'fast' trains have to slow to 40-50km/hr. High speed trains non-existent but millions/billions spent on private road systems with associated tolls - Sydney being the worst. Pollution exists because some people can't or won't walk 5mins to a nearest shop, instead, prefer to hop in a car. Underground tunnels carry thousands of cars daily and big cities are choked with traffic - been in the midst of it for years. So no, walking in such places is not healthy.



Fortunately I don't reside in a huge city but still have plenty of opportunity to see rubbish thrown everywhere - much of it as a result of short term convenience. Still recall having to take your own container to a shop when wanting to purchase milk - a time when not everything was in plastic throwaway containers even as cigarette butts were everywhere.

If anything, I'm an advocate for less is more - particularly after seeing how much one can amass from hoarding. But hey, go and buy those shiny new EV's - buy two, they're said to be cheap to run and maintain whilst helping many businesses and you'll save the planet from polluting ICE vehicles. But as for carbon footprints - there will still be plenty despite the spiel about clean and green.

Build a high speed train network where a trip say from Sydney to Melbourne could take only 3 hours, advertise it's merits and see how much traffic could be taken off congested roads - then replicate it across the country - won't happen as selling cars is more profitable for so many - a convenience that costs.

I could sell my vehicle to save heaps - have done without a car in the past. Buying an expensive EV to replace a fit for purpose existing vehicle seems like a waste of resources - others will no doubt fill that void.

No, I'm not telling anyone what to do but am suggesting that consumerism whilst good for big business may not always be in one's own best interests. Do what's best for you and yours. ATB. AIMO